And who is there now, would not be amaz’d at such an answer? For my part I believe all the Romans are of the same opinion, and are in much doubt of the salvation of the Nephews. And accordingly another of them of judgement little differing from the Abbot, told his friend; _That the Popes Nephews must of necessity go to Purgatory_, _for they would be asham’d to go into Paradise_, _where Christ was_, _whom they had so wickedly despoil’d in this world_.
These expressions perhaps may seem but raillery, and appear but satyrical reflections at first sight; however they come from the very heart, though those that speak them may force themselves into a smile to dissemble it, as the Apothecary conceals the nauseousness of his pills by covering them with silver.
A great part of the sober men in _Rome_ have been very serious in discovering the cause, why the _Popes_ Families are of so little duration, seeing their riches so vast.
Some are of opinion, it proceeds from the reasons abovesaid, that is, that God Almighty takes them out of the world as a punishment for the injuries they have done the Church, in robbing it of the greatest part of its treasure, to make their own house insolent and high.
Others are of opinion the Curses and Execrations of the people do pierce the Divine Ears in such manner, that the Divine Justice seems as it were oblig’d to take them away so immaturely, to give an account of the vileness of their behaviour towards the subjects of the Church.
And indeed the people of the Ecclesiastical State are so ill satisfied, and so ill treated by the ill Government of _Rome_, that is by the _Popes_ Nephews who domineer and lord it over them, that from morning to night they fill the air with their exclamations, from one corner, _When will there be an end of their Extortions_? from another, _O God revenge the cruelties of these Nephews_, _who have ruin’d us_. Nor do the curses thrown out against the Nephews rest at the people only: The very Priests and Ecclesiasticks themselves do daily sacrifice upon their Altars for the destruction of them, who devouring all they can get, leave not the good people so much as will pay for the celebration of a Mass.
In the time the Duke of _Parma_ was in Arms against the State Ecclesiastick, then in the possession of the _Barberini_, the Cardinal _Francesco_ gave order for the performing the forty hours prayers in his Cathedrals to incourage the People, and to oblige them to pray to God for the extirpation of the enemies of the Church. But whilst the _Letany_ of the Saints was singing, a certain _Roman_ Gentleman, at the pronounciation of these words, _Ut inimicos Sanctæ Ecclesiæ humiliare digneris_, told a Friend of his that was by, _The Church has no greater Enemies than the_ Barbarini, _who molest it both at home and abroad_, _so that our Prayers to heaven ought to be_, _to be delivered from them and their Arms_.